‘It was awesome,’ educator says of summer adventure

Sherando High School earth sciences teacher Tom Carney stands by the projection of a photo he took from the peak of Mount Kilamanjaro on a trip to Tanzania. (Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)

For seven months, Tom Carney, an avid hiker, spent hours on an elliptical trainer and StairMaster to get ready for the ascent to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. He had to fill out an eight-page form on his health and had lung scans performed on him due to his chronic asthma. (Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)

STEPHENS CITY

In early August, Tom Carney stood at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, a bit dizzy and with a headache.